Array substrate comprising semiconductor contact layers having same outline as signal lines

ABSTRACT

An array substrate includes plural scanning lines (111); a thin film transistor (112) having a first dielectric film (115), (117), a semiconductor film (120) thereon, and a source electrode (126b) electrically coupled to the semiconductor film (120) and a drain electrode (126a); a signal line (110) as taken out of the drain electrode (126a) to extend at substantially right angles to the scanning lines (111); and a pixel electrode (131) electrically connected to the source electrode (126b), wherein the pixel electrode (131) is electrically connected to the source electrode (126b) through a second dielectric film (127) as disposed on at least the signal line (110) while the pixel electrode (131) overlaps an elongate region (113) from its neighboring scanning line (111) through the first and second dielectric films (115), (117), (127). With such an arrangement, an appropriate storage capacitor can be formed by causing the scanning lines and pixel electrode to overlap each other without having to decrease the manufacturing yield while enabling achievement of high aperture ratio.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/726,472, filed Oct. 4,1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,177.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to array substrates for use in flat paneldisplay devices including liquid crystal display (LCD) devices and themanufacturing method thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

In the recent years flat panel display devices are more frequentlydeveloped to replace conventional cathode-ray tube (CRT) units; inparticular, LCD devices are becoming commercially attractive more andmore due to their advantage such as light weight, thinness, low powerconsumption and the like.

As one typical prior known LCD devices, an light transmissiveactive-matrix LCD device will now be described herein which comes with aplurality of switch elements each of which is at a respective one ofpicture elements. The active-matrix LCD device includes a liquid crystallayer as held between an array substrate and a opposed substrate withorientation films being provided between the liquid crystal layer andany one,of such substrates. The array substrate has, on a transparentinsulative substrate made of glass, quartz or the like, a plurality ofsignal lines and a scanning lines arranged in a matrix form. At each ofsuch crosspoints, a thin film transistor (abbreviated to "TFT"hereinafter) made of semiconductor thin film such as amorphous silicon(referred to as "a-Si:H") is connected to the lines. TFT has a gateelectrode electrically connected to a corresponding one of the scanninglines, a drain electrode electrically connected to a correspondingsignal line, and a source electrode electrically connected to atransparent conductive material constituting an associated pixelelectrode, which material may be indium-tin-oxide (ITO).

The opposed substrate is constituted from a glass substrate on which anopposed electrode made of ITO is disposed; where displaying of colorimages is required, a color filter layer will be additionally providedthereon.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, in the aforesaid LCD device, the pixel electrode can varyin potential due to presence of inherent parasitic capacitances at TFTsor occurrence of leak currents between pixel electrodes and the opposedelectrode; in order to suppress such potential variations at pixelelectrodes, it has been well known that a storage capacitor line isemployed which overlies an associative pixel electrode with aninsulative film laid therebetween thus providing a storage capacitor(Cs) coupled in parallel with the pixel electrode capacitance (CLc).

Unfortunately, such storage capacitor line is typically made of opticalnontransmissive or opaque materials exhibiting impermeability againstlight rays, which are generally employed for scanning lines also, inorder to eliminate an increase in number of manufacturing process stepsrequired. The use of such materials may adversely serve to reduce theaperture ratio. This can be said because, obviously, any regions fordisposal of the storage capacitor lines exhibit optical impermeability.

In view of the foregoing, it has been proposed that the storagecapacitor is formed between the pixel electrode and one scanning lineneighboring thereto while specifically designing the scanning pulsesbeing applied to scanning lines, thereby enabling attainment of higheraperture ratio with pixel potential variations being minimized (U.S.Pat. No. 4,621,260).

However, such structure does not come without accompanying a problem:electrical interlayer short-circuiting can arise at any overlap sectionsbetween scanning lines and pixel electrodes, which in turn leads to areduction in manufacturing yield.

Another advantage of the prior known structure is that while the pixelarea contributing display performance of the pixel electrode can be welldefined by carefully designing the shape of scanning lines in such a wayas to overlie or "overlap" the periphery of pixel electrode, the storagecapacitor (Cs)--this is formed by the overlap region of each pixelelectrode and its associated scanning line--can also increase in valueto go beyond an optimal capacitance value as required to suppress pixelpotential variations. Accordingly, this results in a delay intransmission of scanning pulse signals causing data write into suchpixel electrode to become insufficient or causing the contrast ratio todecrease. If this is the case, the aperture ratio will decrease.

The present invention has been made by taking the foregoing technicalproblems into consideration, and relates to an array substrate for usein display devices arranged to form a storage capacitor by causingscanning lines and pixel electrodes to overlap each other. Accordingly,it is an object of the invention to provide an array substrate fordisplay devices and the manufacturing method thereof capable ofimproving manufacturing yield while enabling accomplishment of highaperture ratio.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide an arraysubstrate for display devices and the manufacturing method thereofcapable of attaining high productivity by use of a decreased number ofmasks without having to decrease yield of production.

It has been provided an array substrate for display devices and themanufacturing method thereof capable of attaining high productivitywithout decreasing production yield (U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,082). The arraysubstrate as disclosed therein is structured as set forth below.

A gate terminal section consists of a lower gate terminal electrode, andan upper gate terminal electrode which is laminated on the lowerelectrode with a dielectric film--this constitutes a common layer with agate insulator film--and a passivation film being sandwichedtherebetween and connected together with the lower electrode via morethan one contact hole as formed in these films. A storage capacitorsection is arranged so that it includes a Cs electrode, a dielectricfilm consisting of an insulator film on Cs electrode and a semiconductorfilm, and an opposed electrode thereon consisting of a n+ type dopedsemiconductor layer and a metal layer.

The prior art array-substrate structure suffers from a problem in thatwhen a voltage is to be applied to such storage capacitor section, itbecomes difficult to apply the same voltage to a plurality of storagecapacitor sections.

In light of the above problem, the present invention provides an arraysubstrate as structured to enable the same voltage to be applied to arespective one of the storage capacitor sections.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention as recited in claim 1 provides an array substrate for adisplay device comprising a scanning line on a substrate; a thin filmtransistor having a first insulator film on said scanning line, asemiconductor film thereon, and a source electrode and a drain electrodeelectrically connected to said semiconductor film; a signal line astaken out of the drain electrode to extend substantially perpendicularlyto said scanning line; and a picture element or "pixel" electrodeelectrically connected to the source electrode, wherein said pixelelectrode is electrically coupled to said source electrode through asecond insulator film as disposed at least on the signal line, and inthat said pixel electrode overlaps said scanning line neighboringthereto with the first and second insulator films being laidtherebetween.

The invention according to claim 4 provides a method of manufacturing anarray substrate for a display device including a scanning line on asubstrate, a thin film transistor having a first insulator film on saidline, a semiconductor film thereon, a channel protective film on saidsemiconductor film, and source and drain electrodes electricallyconnected to said semiconductor film, a signal line as taken out of thedrain electrode to extend substantially perpendicularly to said scanningline, and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the sourceelectrode, said method comprising the steps of: forming a first wiringline layer including said scanning line on said substrate; depositingsaid first insulator film and a semiconductor coated film; forming asecond wiring line layer including said signal line, said sourceelectrode and said drain electrode by patterning at least said metalthin film and said semiconductor film with the same mask used;depositing a second insulator film to form a first contact hole in saidsecond insulator film corresponding to said source electrode; andforming said pixel electrode being electrically connected to said sourceelectrode through said contact hole and overlapping said scanning linewith the first and second insulator films being laid therebetween.

In accordance with the array substrate and the manufacturing methodthereof, since at least the pixel electrode is disposed through thedielectric film(s) with respect to the scanning line and signal line, itbecomes possible to locate the pixel electrode sufficiently close tosuch scanning and signal lines thereby enabling accomplishment of highaperture ratio. Further, the pixel electrode for example is specificallydisposed so as to overlap an elongate region as extended from oneneighboring scanning line with at least two, first and second dielectricfilms being laid therebetween; accordingly, even when the overlap regionwith the pixel electrode increases in area, it will no longer happenthat the manufacturing yield is decreased due to occurrence ofelectrical insulation defects.

Furthermore, with the foregoing arrangement, even on occasions where theoverlap region between the pixel electrode and its associative scanningline increases in area, it is possible to suppress or eliminate asignificant increase in storage capacitor. More specifically, where thestorage capacitor is formed by causing the scanning line and pixelelectrode to overlap each other, it will possibly happen that if thestorage capacitor is sufficiently great in value, resultant capacitanceaddition relating to the scanning line increases which in turn leads toan increase in power consumption or to degradation in displayperformance such as insufficient writing or a decrease in contrast ratiodue to a delay in scanning pulse signals. Fortunately, with thisinvention, even when the periphery of pixel electrode and the elongateregion of scanning line are designed to overlap each other in order todefine a boundary of pixel electrode for example, the storage capacitorwill no longer increase significantly because of the fact that the pixelelectrode overlaps the elongate region extended from scanning line withat least two, first and second dielectric films being sandwichedtherebetween.

The invention as defined in claim 9 provides a method of manufacturingan array substrate for a display device including a scanning line on asubstrate, a thin film transistor having a first insulator film on saidline, a semiconductor film thereon, source and drain electrodeselectrically connected to said semiconductor film, a signal line astaken out of the drain electrode to extend substantially perpendicularlyto said scanning line, and a pixel electrode electrically connected tothe source electrode, comprising a first step of forming said scanningline, a second step of depositing said first insulator film and asemiconductor coated film, a third step of depositing a metal thin filmto form said signal line, the source electrode and the drain electrodeby patterning said metal thin film and said semiconductor film using thesame mask, a fourth step of depositing a second insulator film to form afirst contact hole in said second insulator film corresponding to saidsource electrode, and a fifth step of forming said pixel electrode beingelectrically coupled though said contact hole to said source electrodeand overlapping said scanning line with the first and second insulatorfilms being laid therebetween, wherein, at a place excluding said thinfilm transistor and bridging said pixel electrode and the oneneighboring scanning line or another scanning line, the method furthercomprises the steps of depositing said first insulator film and asemiconductor coated film simultaneously with said second step, formingsaid light shield layer by depositing said metal thin film andpatterning said metal thin film and said semiconductor film by use ofsaid mask simultaneously with said third step, depositing said secondinsulator film simultaneously at said fourth step, and forming saidpixel electrode so as to overlap part of the one scanning line oranother scanning line simultaneously with said fifth step.

The invention of claim 10 provides an array substrate for a displaydevice comprising a plurality of scanning line being disposed on asubstrate and including a gate electrode region, storage capacitor linesextending in substantially parallel with said scanning lines, a thinfilm transistor having a first insulator film on said storage capacitorlines, a semiconductor film disposed on at least said gate electroderegion, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected to saidsemiconductor film, a second insulator film on said thin filmtransistor, a signal line electrically connected to the drain electrodethrough said second insulator film and intersecting substantiallyperpendicularly to said scanning lines, and a pixel electrodeelectrically connected to the source electrode through said secondinsulator film, wherein each of said storage capacitor line includes abundling lead member extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to each of said storage capacitor lines with the first andsecond insulator films being laid therebetween, and that each of saidstorage capacitor lines and said bundling lead member include a storagecapacitor coupler section electrically connected through a conductivelayer.

The invention set forth in claim 14 provides an array substrate for adisplay device having a scanning line on a substrate, a thin filmtransistor having a first insulator film on said line, a semiconductorfilm thereon, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected tosaid semiconductor film, a signal line as taken out of the drainelectrode to extend substantially perpendicularly to said scanning line,and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the source electrode,comprising a scanning-line takeout section being provided at ascanning-line terminal section located at periphery of said substrate,for taking out said scanning line, wherein said scanning-line takeoutsection has a first conductive layer being the same in material as saidscanning line, and a second conductive layer being the same in materialas the signal line and being provided on said first conductive layerwith an insulative layer being sandwiched therebetween, wherein saidfirst conductive layer and said second conductive layer are electricallyconnected together by a connection layer same in material as said pixelelectrode.

The invention as defined in claim 15 provides an array substrate for adisplay device having a scanning line on the substrate, a thin filmtransistor having a first insulator film on said line, a semiconductorfilm thereon, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected tosaid semiconductor film, a signal line as taken out of the drainelectrode to extend substantially perpendicularly to said scanning line,and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the source electrode,comprising a signal-line takeout section for taking out the signal lineas provided at a signal-line terminal section located at periphery ofsaid substrate, wherein said signal-line takeout section has a firstconductive layer same in material as said scanning line, and a secondconductive layer being the same in material as the signal line and beingprovided on said first conductive layer with an insulative layer beingsandwiched therebetween, said first conductive layer and said secondconductive layer being electrically connected together by a connectionlayer same in material as said pixel electrode.

The invention set forth in claim 16 provides an array substrate for adisplay device comprising a scanning line on a substrate, a thin filmtransistor having a first insulator film on said line,a semiconductorfilm thereon, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected tosaid semiconductor film, a second insulator film on said thin filmtransistor, a signal line extending substantially perpendicularly tosaid scanning line as electrically connected through said secondinsulator film to the drain electrode, a pixel electrode electricallyconnected through said second insulator film to the source electrode, asignal line terminal section electrically connected through a signalline takeout section to said signal line, and a scanning line terminalsection electrically connected through a scanning line takeout sectionto said scanning line, wherein said signal line terminal section andscanning line terminal section comprise a first conductive layer same inmaterial as said scanning line, and a second conductive layer same inmaterial as said pixel electrode and being disposed on said firstconductive layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a plan view of part of anarray substrate in accordance with one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal display devicetaken along line A-A' in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal display devicetaken along line B-B' in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal display devicetaken along line C-C' in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal display devicetaken along line D-D' in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal display devicetaken along line E-E' in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explanation of a first step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explanation of a second step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explanation of a third step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explanation of a fourth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explanation of a fifth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explanation of a sixth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explanation of a seventh step in themanufacture of the array substrate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing one modification of the structure near theouter periphery of signal lines.

FIG. 15 is a schematical plan view of part of an array substrate inaccordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal displaydevice taken along line A-A' in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal displaydevice taken along line B-B' in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal displaydevice taken along line C-C' in FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal displaydevice taken along line D-D' in FIG. 15.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explanation of a first step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explanation of a second step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explanation of a third step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explanation of a fourth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explanation of a fifth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for explanation of a sixth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for explanation of a seventh step in themanufacture of the array substrate shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 27 is a schematic plan view of part of an array substrate inaccordance with one modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a schematical plan view of part of an array substrate inaccordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 29 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal displaydevice taken along line A-A' in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal displaydevice taken along line B-B' in FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is a schematic cross-section of the liquid crystal displaydevice taken along line C-C' in FIG. 28.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explanation of a first step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explanation of a second step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explanation of a third step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explanation of a fourth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 36 is a diagram for explanation of a fifth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explanation of a sixth step in the manufactureof the array substrate shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 38 is a diagram for explanation of a seventh step in themanufacture of the array substrate shown in FIG. 28.

BEST MODE EMBODYING THE INVENTION First Embodiment

A description will now be given of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device(1) in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention withreference to FIGS. 1 through 13.

This LCD device (1) is of the light transmissive type capable ofdisplaying color images. As shown in FIG. 2, LCD device (1) has an arraysubstrate (100), an opposed substrate (200), and a twisted nematic (TN)liquid crystal held therebetween through orientation films (141) beinglaid between it and substrates (100), (200). These orientation films(141), (241) are made of polyimide resin. Also, polarization plates(311), (313) are adhered to the outer surfaces of array substrate (100)and opposed substrate (200), respectively.

FIG. 1 shows a schematical plan view of the array substrate (100),wherein the lower side of this drawing is to be located at the upperside of the display screen of LCD device (1) while allowing scanninglines to be successively selected in the sequence from the lower to theupper side of the illustration.

The array substrate (100) includes 480 scanning lines (111) made ofaluminum-yttrium (Al--Y) alloy as disposed on a glass substrate (101).One end of each scanning line (111) is taken out to extend toward oneedge (101a) side of the glass substrate (101), and is electricallyconnected through a slant wiring line section (150) to a correspondingone of scanning line connection pads (152). Here, the scanning lines(111) are made of Al--Y alloy; these may alternatively be made ofmolybdenum-tantalum (Mo--Ta) alloy, molybdenum-tungsten (Mo--W) alloy,aluminum (Al), or its alloy.

The array substrate (100) also includes 1,920 signal lines (110) made ofMo--W alloy, which lines extend to intersect the scanning lines (111) atsubstantially right angles on the glass substrate (101). Each signalline (110) is taken out to run toward the other edge (101b) side of theglass substrate (101), and is electrically connected via a slant wiringline section (160) to a corresponding signal line connection pad (162).While signal lines (110) are made of Mo--W alloy here, these mayalternatively be constituted from Mo--Ta alloy, Al or its alloy.

A TFT (112) is disposed near each of the cross-points of the scanninglines (111) and signal lines (110). Also, a pixel electrode (131) whichis made of ITO and coupled to TFT (112) is disposed over the scanningline (111) and signal line (110) with an interlayer dielectric film(127) being provided therebetween. This interlayer dielectric film (127)may be an inorganic dielectric film made of silicon nitride, siliconoxide or the like, or an organic resin coated film of acryl-basedmaterial; preferably, the interlayer dielectric film is constituted froma multi-layer film of a combination of such inorganic dielectric filmand organic resin coated film thereby further improving the surfaceflatness and interlayer dielectricity.

Structure of TFT Region

An explanation will be given of the structure of TFT (112).

Each scanning line (111) includes a fine strip-shaped elongate region(113) extending along the signal line (110) to overlap the edges (131a),(131b) of one neighboring pixel electrode (131). As shown in FIG. 6, thepixel electrode (131) and the elongate region (113) from aprestage-in-scanning line (111) with respect to the scanning line (111)for the pixel electrode (131) overlap each other at certain overlapregion (OS), with a first gate insulator film (115), a second gateinsulator film (117) and interlayer dielectric film (127) being laidtherebetween, causing such overlap region (OS) to constitute a storagecapacitance (Cs). Further, with this embodiment, the pixel electrode(131) overlaps the prestage scanning line (111) per se through the firstgate insulator film (115), second gate insulator film (117) andinterlayer dielectric film (127) to form a further overlap region whichalso constitutes the storage capacitor (Cs).

The opposed substrate (200) opposing this array substrate (100) isdisposed on a glass substrate (201), and includes a matrix-shaped lightshielding film (211) made of a chosen resin material which acts to blockany incoming light rays by way of the TFT (121) region and gap spacingsbetween the pixel electrode (131) and any one of signal lines (110) andscanning lines (111). A color filter (221) having three color componentsof red (R), green (G) and blue (B) is disposed in a certain regioncorresponding to the pixel electrode (131). Provided on this is anotheropposed electrode (231) made of a transparent conductive material.

With the array substrate (100) of this LCD device (1) thus arranged,since the interlayer dielectric film (127) alone or both the first andsecond gate insulator films (115), (117) and interlayer dielectric film(127) are disposed between the pixel electrode (131) and any one ofsignal lines (110) and scanning lines (111), it is possible for pixelelectrode (131) to be disposed sufficiently close to or over respectivewiring lines (110), (111), thereby enabling achievement of increasedaperture ratio.

Another advantage of the illustrative embodiment is that since thestorage capacitor (Cs) is formed between the pixel electrode (131) andthe elongate region (113) extended from one scanning line (111)neighboring to such pixel electrode (131), it is no longer necessary toemploy any extra storage capacitor wiring lines enabling achievement offurther increased aperture ratio. Especially, in this embodiment,because TFT (112) is constituted using as its gate electrode a specificregion taken out of the signal line (110) to extend along the signalline (110), it becomes possible for pixel electrode (131) to overlap theprestage scanning line (111) per se. This may advantageously serve toattain sufficient storage capacitor (Cs) while enabling achievement ofhigh aperture ratio.

Also, since three kinds of insulative or dielectric films (115), (117),(127) are laminated and disposed between the pixel electrode (131) andthe scanning line (111) and between the pixel electrode (131) andelongate region (113), it is possible to successfully suppressoccurrence of electrical interlayer shorting due to the inherentstructure of the embodiment.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the pixel area is defined in planarsize not by the light-shield film (211) as disposed on the opposedelectrode (200), but by the scanning line (111) and its elongate region(113) on the array substrate (100). Accordingly, the alignment accuracyof the product is dependent solely upon an alignment accuracy of a firstmask pattern for use in patterning scanning lines (111) to a fifth maskpattern for patterning pixel electrodes (131), rather than depending onan alignment accuracy of the array substrate (100) to opposed substrate(200). This may avoid the need to add extra margins to the width oflight shield film (211) in view of possible alignment variations of thearray substrate (100) to opposed substrate (200), thus enablingaccomplishment of further increased aperture ratio.

Yet another advantage of the embodiment is that even when the elongateregion (113) of scanning line (111) is fully extended along the edges(131a), (131b) of pixel electrode (131) along the signal line (110) inorder to define the boundary of pixel area, it is possible to suppressor eliminate an excessive increase in storage capacitor (Cs) withoutdegrading the productivity. This can be said because the interlayerdielectric film (127) is disposed--in addition to the first gateinsulator film (115) and second gate insulator film (117)--between thepixel electrode (131) and the elongate region (113) of scanning line(111).

A further advantage of the embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 5, thesignal line (110) is exactly identical in outline to a low-resistancesemiconductor film (124a) and semiconductor film (120). Morespecifically, not only the first and second gate insulator films (115),(117) but also the low-resistance semiconductor film (124a) andsemiconductor film (120) are laminated at the individual one ofcrosspoints of signal lines (110) and scanning lines (111). Due to this,even on occasions where mask deviations take place during patterningprocess steps, the capacitance can remains unchanged between the signallines (110) and scanning lines (111), thereby suppressing variations orfluctuations in scanning-line capacitance or in signal-line capacitanceamong devices manufactured. Moreover, this may suppress or eliminateinterlayer shorting otherwise occurring due to static electricity atcrosspoints of signal lines (110) and scanning lines (111), contaminantsduring process steps, or presence of pinholes in respective dielectricfilms (115), (117), thus enabling provision of higher yield ofproduction.

A still further advantage is that since the signal line (110) coincidesin outline with low-resistance semiconductor film (124a) as shown inFIG. 6, unlike the prior art causing patterning to be done at separateprocess steps, it is possible to sufficiently suppress occurrence ofcapacitive variations between the signal lines (110) and scanning lines(111) even if mask alignment deviations take place during respectivepatterning steps.

A yet further advantage is that when the signal line (110) is designedto overlap the elongate region (113) of scanning line (111), that is,even when in the structure of FIG. 6 the elongate region (113) beingdisposed neighboring through the signal line (111) is connected underthe signal line (111), since the semiconductor film (120) in addition torespective dielectric films (115), (117) is disposed between the signalline (110) and the elongate region (113) of scanning line (111), anyinterlayer shorting can be prevented from occurring due to staticelectricity, contaminants during processes or pinholes within respectivedielectric films (115), (117), attaining high manufacturing yield. And,with such an arrangement causing the elongate region (113) to bedisposed under the pixel electrode (131) neighboring to signal line(111), the capacitive coupling between signal line (111) and pixelelectrode (131) can be shielded by elongate region (113) lighteningadverse interference of the potential at pixel electrode (131) withpotential changes of signal line (111). Yet, the semiconductor film(120) as disposed between signal line (111) and dielectric films (115),(117) and low-resistance semiconductor film (124a) are identical inoutline with signal line (111). For these reasons, it is permissiblethat signal line (111) and pixel electrode (131) are located closely toeach other attaining further increased aperture ratio.

Structure Near Outer Periphery of Scanning Line

A reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 3 for explanation of the structurenear the outer peripheral section of scanning line (111).

The scanning line (111) made of Al--Y alloy is taken out on the side ofone edge (101a) of the glass substrate (101), constituting a lower-layerwiring line section (111a) that is guided toward a slant wiring linesection (150) and a scanning-line connection pad (152).

In the slant wiring line section (150) two laminated dielectric films(115), (117) are disposed on the lower-layer wiring line section (111a)as extended from the scanning line (111). Also provided on these twodielectric films (115), (117) are a semiconductor coated film (119), alow-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) and an upper-layer wiringline section (125a) consisting of a Mo--W alloy film being same assignal line (110) in material and in process, which are laminatedsequentially. An interlayer dielectric film (127) is formed on theupper-layer wiring line section (125a).

And, in the base section of this slant wiring line section (150), afirst contact hole (153) and a second contact hole (154) making a pairare disposed closely to each other in the wiring-line direction, wherebythe lower-layer wiring line section (111a) which is extended from thescanning line (111) and the upper-layer wiring line section (125a) areelectrically connected to each other by the signal line connection layer(131), which is the same in material (ITO, here) and process as pixelelectrode (131), through the first contact hole (155) and second contacthole (156). Note that the second contact hole (154) is an openingpenetrating the two-layered dielectric films (115), (117), semiconductorcoated film (119), low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) andupper-layer wiring line section (125a) causing the principal surface ofthe lower-layer wiring line section (111a) to be partly exposed, whereasthe first contact hole (153) is an opening penetrating the interlayerdielectric film (127) exposing part of the principal surface ofupper-layer wiring line section (125a).

In the scanning line pad (152) also, a pair of first contact hole (155)and second contact hole (156) are disposed closely to each other in thewiring-line direction, whereby the lower-layer wiring line section(111a) of scanning line (111) and the upper-layer wiring line section(125a) are electrically connected by the signal line connection layer(131)--this is the same in material (ITO, here) and process as pixelelectrode (131)--to each other through the first contact hole (155) andsecond contact hole (156). Note that the second contact hole (156) is anopening penetrating the double-layered dielectric films (115), (117),semiconductor coated film (119), low-resistance semiconductor coatedfilm (123) and upper-layer wiring line section (125a) causing theprincipal surface of the lower-layer wiring line section (111a) to bepartly exposed in the same manner as in the second contact hole (154) asmentioned above; the first contact hole (155) is similar to theaforesaid first contact hole (153) in that it is an opening penetratingthe interlayer dielectric film (127) exposing part of the principalsurface of upper-layer wiring line section (125a).

With such an arrangement, the resulting slant wiring line section (150)of scanning line (111) is constituted from the upper-layer wiring linesection (125a) as comprised of a Mo--W alloy film that is fabricatedusing the same material and same process as the signal line (110)subjected to patterning separately, and the lower-layer wiring linesection (111a) as extended from the scanning line (111) made of Al--Yalloy film; by these two layers, the base section of slant wiring linesection (150) and scanning line pad (152) are electrically connectedtogether.

Due to such structure, in the slant wiring line section (150), even ifit is happen that any one of upper-layer wiring line section (125a) andlower-layer wiring line section (111a) is broken or open-circuitedaccidentally, the other of them still remains connected successfullysuppressing or eliminating failure of electrical interconnection atslant wiring line section (150).

Further, sufficient reduction in resistance can be accomplished becauseof the fact that the slant wiring line section (150) includes thelower-layer wiring line section (111a) formed of Al--Y alloy that is onelow-resistance material employing Al as its major component.

It should be noted that in this embodiment, the region of second contacthole (156), that is, the laminated region of lower-layer wiring linesection (111a) and signal line connection layer (131) mainly functionsas an interconnection region of the scanning line pad (152).

Structure Near Outer Periphery of Signal Line

A reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 4 for explanation of the structurenear the outer peripheral section of signal lines (110).

A lower-layer wiring line section (111b), which is the same inmaterial--Al--Y alloy--and in process as scanning lines (111), isdisposed at the slant wiring line section (160) of signal line (110) andthe signal line pad (162) on the side of one edge (101b) of glasssubstrate (101) in a one-to-one correspondence manner with each signalline (110).

In the slant wiring line section (160) two layers of dielectric films(115), (117) are disposed on the lower-layer wiring line section (116b).Provided on such two-layered dielectric films (115), (117) aresemiconductor coated film (119), low-resistance semiconductor coatedfilm (123) and lower-layer wiring line section (111b)--i.e. signal line(110)--made of Mo--W alloy as extended from signal line (110) whilecausing the interlayer dielectric film (127) to be disposed on theupper-layer wiring line section (125b).

And, in the base section of this slant wiring line section (160), afirst contact hole (163) and a second contact hole (164) forming a pairare disposed closely to each other in the wiring-line direction, wherebythe upper-layer wiring line section (125b) which is extended from thescanning line (111) and the upper-layer wiring line section (111b) areelectrically connected to each other by signal line connection layer(131) same in material--ITO, here--and process as pixel electrode (131).Note that the second contact hole (164) is an opening penetrating thedouble-layered dielectric films (115), (117), semiconductor coated film(119), low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) and upper-layerwiring line section (125b) causing the principal surface of thelower-layer wiring line section (111b) to be partly exposed, whereas thefirst contact hole (163) is an opening penetrating the interlayerdielectric film (127) exposing part of the principal surface ofupper-layer wiring line section (125b).

In the signal line pad (162) also, a pair of first contact hole (165)and second contact hole (166) are disposed closely to each other alongthe wiring-line direction, whereby the upper-layer wiring line section(125b) extended from signal line (110) and the lower-layer wiring linesection (111b) are electrically connected to each other by the signalline connection layer (131), which is the same in material (ITO, here)and process as pixel electrode (131). Note that the second contact hole(166) is an opening penetrating the double-layered dielectric films(115), (117), semiconductor coated film (119), low-resistancesemiconductor coated film (123) and upper-layer wiring line section(125b) causing the principal surface of the lower-layer wiring linesection (111b) to be partly exposed in the same manner as in the secondcontact hole (164) as discussed previously; the first contact hole (165)is similar to the aforesaid first contact hole (163) in that it is anopening penetrating the interlayer dielectric film (127) exposing partof the principal surface of upper-layer wiring line section (125b).

With such a structure, in the slant wiring line section (160), theupper-layer wiring line section (125b) as extended from the signal line(110) made of Mo--W alloy film and the lower-layer wiring line section(111b) comprised of the same material--Al--Y alloy--as scanning lines(111) and fabricated in the same process as scanning lines (111) aredisposed in lamination; by these two layers, the base section of slantwiring line section (160) and the signal line pad (162) are electricallycoupled together.

Due to this, in the slant wiring line section (160), even on occasionswhere any one of upper-layer wiring line section (125b) made of Mo--Walloy and the lower-layer wiring line section (111b) is broken to beopen-circuited, the other thereof still remains connected suppressing oreliminating failure of electrical interconnection at slant wiring linesection (160).

Furthermore, sufficient reduction in resistance can also be accomplishedsince the slant wiring line section (160) includes the lower-layerwiring line section (111b) formed of Al--Y alloy that is one typicallow-resistance material employing Al as its major component.

It should be noted that in this embodiment, the region of second contacthole (166), that is, the laminated region of lower-layer wiring linesection (111b) and signal line connection layer (131) acts as the majorinterconnection region of the signal line pad (162).

With the arrangement as described above, where external connectionnodes--including a bump of driver IC, terminals of flexible printedcircuit (FPC) board, tape carrier package (TCP) or the like--are to beelectrically connected to the signal line pads (162) and scanning linepads (152) by way of an interconnection layer(s) such as anisotropicconductive films (ACFs), even when the signal line pads (162) andscanning line pads (152) are equal in connection conditions, it becomespossible to substantially equalize heat and pressure or the like asapplied to such interconnection layers due to the fact that the signalline pads (162) and scanning line pads (152) are substantially the samein arrangement, enabling manufacture under the same condition.Specifically, with this embodiment, the connection region of eachscanning line pad (152) is mainly constituted from the laminationstructure of the lower-layer wiring line section (111a) made of Al--Yalloy film as taken out of a corresponding scanning line (111) and thesignal line connection layer (131) made of ITO that is the same as thematerial constituting pixel electrodes (131); on the other hand, theconnection region of each signal line connection pad (162) is mainlyconstituted from the lower-layer wiring line section (111b) made ofAl--Y alloy as formed simultaneously with fabrication of scanning lines(111), and the signal line connection layer (131) made of ITO that isthe same as the material constituting pixel electrodes (131), whereinthe structure is substantially the same.

Manufacturing Process of Array Substrate

A method of forming or manufacturing the array substrate (100) will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 through 13.

(1) First Process Step

As shown in FIG. 7, an Al--Y alloy film and an Mo film are sequentiallydeposited by known sputtering techniques on the glass substrate (101) toa predetermined thickness of 200 nanometers (nm) and to 30 nm,respectively. The resulting structure is then subject to exposureprocess using a first mask pattern while development and patterning(first patterning) are carried out.

This results in formation of 480 scanning lines (111) on the glasssubstrate (101) while permitting simultaneous fabrication of lower-layerwiring line sections (111a), each of which constitutes the slant wiringline section (150) of scanning line (111) and scanning line pad (152) onits one edge (101a) side, and lower-layer wiring line sections (111b)each constituting slant wiring line section (160) of signal line (110)and signal line pad (162) on the side of another edge (101b) of theglass substrate.

Further, in the TFT region, a gate electrode is formed which is integralwith a corresponding scanning line (111) and is taken out to extend in aspecific direction at right angles to scanning lines (111). At thepatterning process step elongate regions (113) are also fabricatedsimultaneously each of which is taken out to extend in the perpendiculardirection to scanning lines (111) for formation of the storage capacitor(Cs) required (see FIG. 1).

(2) Second Process Step

After completion of the first step, as shown in FIG. 8, a first gateinsulator film (115) made of silicon oxide is deposited using plasmachemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques to a thickness of 150 nm;thereafter, a second gate insulator film (117) made of silicon nitride150 nm thick, a 50-nm thick semiconductor coated film (119) made ofa-Si:H, and 200-nm thick silicon-nitride channel protective coated film(121) are formed sequentially in this order without exposing them toatmosphere.

(3) Third Process Step

After the second step, as shown in FIG. 9, the channel protective coatedfilm (121) is subject using rear-surface exposure techniques topatterning process with the scanning lines (111) being as a mask whilethe coated film (121) is self-aligned with scanning lines (111), and isthen subject to exposure process using a second mask pattern to ensurethat it corresponds to each TFT region. Thereafter, development andpatterning (second patterning) are performed to fabricate an island-likechannel protective film (122).

(4) Fourth Process Step

After completion of the third step, as shown in FIG. 10, surfacetreatment using hydrogen fluoride (HF) solution is applied to thesurface of a semiconductor coated film (119) as exposed to obtain goodohmic contacts. Then, a low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123)which is made of n+ type-doped amorphous silicon (n+a-Si:H) containingtherein phosphorus (P) impurity is deposited by plasma CVD techniques toa thickness of 30 nm. Next, an Mo--W alloy film (125) is depositedthereon using sputtering techniques to a thickness of 300 nm.

(5) Fifth Process Step

After completion of the fourth step, as shown in FIG. 11, the resultingstructure is subject to exposure and development process using a thirdmask pattern so that all of the Mo--W alloy film (125), low-resistancesemiconductor coated film (123) and semiconductor coated film (119) arepatterned by plasma etching techniques at a time by controlling theselective etching rate of the first gate insulator film (115) or secondgate insulator film (117) and the channel protective film (122). This isthe third patterning process.

With such a process, in the TFT region, the low-resistance semiconductorfilm (124a) and source electrode (126b) are formed integrally, whereaslow-resistance semiconductor film (124b) and its associated signal line(110) are formed integrally.

In the base section of the scanning line pad (152) and its associativeslant wiring line section (150), the Mo--W alloy film (125) is patternedalong the lower-layer wiring line section (111a) forming the upper-layerwiring line section (125a), while the low-resistance semiconductorcoated film (123) and semiconductor coated film (119) are patternedsimultaneously along the upper-layer wiring line section (125a). At thesame time, openings (154a), (156a) are formed which correspond to theaforementioned second contact holes (154), (156) and penetrate theupper-layer wiring line section (125a), low-resistance semiconductorcoated film (123) and semiconductor coated film (119).

Similarly, at the base section of the signal line pad (162) and slantwiring line section (160) also, the Mo--W alloy film (125) is patternedalong the lower-layer wiring line section (111b) forming the upper-layerwiring line section (125a) as extended from signal line (110), while thelow-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) and semiconductor coatedfilm (119) are patterned simultaneously along the upper-layer wiringline section (125b). At the same time, openings (164a), (166a) areformed which correspond to the aforementioned second contact holes(164), (166) and penetrate the upper-layer biking line section (125b),low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) and semiconductor coatedfilm (119).

While dry etching techniques are used here to pattern the Mo--W alloyfilm (125), low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) andsemiconductor coated film (119), wet etching techniques mayalternatively be employed therefor.

(6) Sixth Process Step

After completion of the fifth step, the interlayer dielectric film (127)of silicon nitride is then deposited on resultant structure to athickness of 200 nm.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, exposure and development processes areeffected using a fourth mask pattern; next, part of interlayerdielectric film (127) in a region corresponding to the source electrode(126b) is removed away to form a contact hole (129a) using dry etchingtechniques.

At the base section of scanning line pad (152) and slant wiring linesection (150), both the interlayer dielectric film (127) and the firstand second gate insulator films (115), (117) corresponding to theopenings (154a), (156a) are removed away at a time to form secondcontact holes (154), (156) (the fourth patterning); simultaneously, theinterlayer dielectric film (127) near the second contact holes (154),(156) is removed to form first contact holes (153), (155) each of whichmakes a pair with a corresponding one of the second contact holes (154),(156).

Simultaneously, at the base section of signal line pad (162) and slantwiring line section (160), both the interlayer dielectric film (127) andthe first and second gate insulator films (117) corresponding to theopenings (164a), (166a) are removed away at a time forming secondcontact holes (164), (166) (the fourth patterning); at the same time,the interlayer dielectric film (127) near the second contact holes(164), (166) is removed away forming first contact holes (163), (165)which constitute pairs with the second contact holes (164), (166),respectively.

(7) Seventh Process Step

After completion of the sixth step, as shown in FIG. 13, an ITO film isdeposited by sputtering techniques to a thickness of 100 nm. Theresulting structure is then subject to patterning treatment by exposure,development and dry etching techniques using a fifth mask pattern (thefifth patterning), thereby forming pixel electrodes (131). Thepatterning of such ITO film may alternatively be performed using knownwet etching techniques rather than the dry etching.

At the base section of the scanning line pad (152) and slant wiring linesection (150), a signal line connection layer (131) is formedelectrically connecting the first contact holes (153), (155) to secondcontact holes (154), (156). This results in that the scanning line (111)and scanning line pad (152) are electrically coupled together by thedouble-layered slant wiring line section (150) consisting of thelower-layer wiring line section (111a) and upper-layer wiring linesection (125a).

In the base section of the signal line pad (160) and signal lines (160)also, a signal line connection layer (131) is formed electricallyconnecting the first contact holes (163), (165) to second contact holes(164), (166). This results in that the signal line (110) and signal linepad (162) are electrically coupled to each other by the double-layeredslant wiring line section (160) consisting of the lower-layer wiringline section (111b) and upper-layer wiring line section (125b).

Advantage of First Embodiment

With the array substrate in accordance with the foregoing illustrativeembodiment, the array substrate can be formed or manufactured by use ofbasically five masks. More specifically, the productivity can beimproved with a decreased number of masks used while avoiding a decreasein the manufacturing yield thereof, as a result of locating the pixelelectrodes at the uppermost position, and of employing a specificmanufacturing method allowing several process steps to be donesimultaneously which steps include: patterning the semiconductor coatedfilms as well as the signal lines, source and drain electrodes at a timewith the same mask pattern used therefor; forming the contact holes forinterconnection of each source electrode and its associated pixelelectrode; and forming the contact holes for exposure of contact nodesof signal lines and scanning line s.

Further, each slant wiring line section of signal lines and scanninglines has a double-layered structure consisting of the upper-layerwiring line section made of Mo--W alloy film constituting an individualsignal line and the lower-layer wiring line section of Al--Y alloy filmconstituting a corresponding scanning line permitting electricalconnection between the base section of each slant wiring line sectionand a corresponding pad associated therewith. With such a structure,even if either one of such lower-layer wiring line section andupper-layer wiring line section is cut off or broken to beopen-circuited accidentally, the other of them still continues to beconnected eliminating occurrence of unwanted disconnection or failure ofelectrical interconnection as a whole.

Furthermore, a sufficient reduction in resistance can be achieved due tothe fact that the slant wiring line section includes a specific wiringline layer that is comprised of a low-resistance material using at leastAl as its major component.

Still further, since the signal line pads and scanning line pads for usein connecting bumps of external driver ICs and/or terminals of TCPs aresubstantially the same in structure, it becomes possible to allow theboth to be connected under the same condition.

Other Possible Modifications

In the illustrative embodiment discussion is directed to the case wherethe semiconductor film is made of a-Si:H; alternatively, it may also bepolycrystalline silicon or the like. Driver circuitry may be provided atthe peripheral region as formed integrally with the array substrate.

Also, where the pixel electrodes are disposed over the signal linesand/or scanning lines with part of the former overlapping the latter, anappropriate shield electrode comprised of a metallic film may beadditionally provided at least between the pixel electrode and anassociative signal line while dielectric films are used for electricalinsulation therebetween. If this is the case, it becomes possible toreduce adverse influence of potential variations on signal lines uponpixel electrodes.

Modifications of Structure Near Outer Periphery of Signal Lines andScanning Line s

A reference is made to FIG. 14 for description of one possiblemodification of the structure in the vicinity of the outer peripheralsection of signal line (110).

The lower-layer wiring line section (111b) which is the same inmaterial--Al--Y alloy film, here--and in process with scanning lines(111) is disposed, for each signal line (110), at the slant wiring linesection (160) of a signal line (110) and signal line pad (162) on theside of one edge (101b) of the glass substrate (101).

In the slant wiring line section (160) two-layered dielectric films(115), (117) are disposed on the lower-layer wiring line section (111b).Formed and laminated on such two-layered dielectric films (115), (117)are the semiconductor coated film (119), low-resistance semiconductorcoated film (123), and upper-layer wiring line section (125b)--signalline (110)--made of Mo--W alloy film as extended from signal line (110)with interlayer dielectric film (127) being arranged on upper-layerwiring line section (125b).

The base section of this slant wiring line section (160) is similar instructure to the embodiment as mentioned previously: at the signal linepad (162), a pair of first contact hole (175) and second contact hole(176) are disposed respectively allowing the upper-layer wiring linesection (125b) extended from a corresponding signal line (110) to beelectrically connected with the lower-layer wiring line section (111b)by signal line connection layer (131) which is the same inmaterial--ITO, here--and in process as pixel electrodes (131).Additionally, the first contact hole (175) is an opening that penetratesthe double-layered dielectric films (115), (117), semiconductor coatedfilm (119), low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) andupper-layer wiring line section (125b) for exposure of part of theprincipal surface of lower-layer wiring line section (111b), whereas thesecond contact hole (176) is an opening penetrating the interlayerdielectric film (127) for permission of partial exposure of theprincipal surface of upper-layer wiring line section (125b).

It can be said that this modification thus arranged is similar to theaforesaid embodiment except that the signal line pad (162) isconstituted from a specific lamination or multilayered structureconsisting of the lower-layer wiring line section (111b), double-layereddielectric films (115), (117), semiconductor coated film (119) disposedon such dielectric films (115), (117), low-resistance semiconductorcoated film (123), upper-layer wiring line section (125b)--signal line(110)--of Mo--W alloy film as extended from signal line (110), andsignal line connection layer (131) of ITO constituting pixel electrode(131).

Preferably, the structure near the outer periphery of scanning lines(111) may be arranged in the same manner as that of signal line side.

Second Embodiment

An optical transmissive LCD device (1) in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 15 through 26.

As shown in FIG. 16, LCD device (1) has an array substrate (100), anopposed substrate (200), and a TN liquid crystal held therebetween withan orientation film (141) being laid between it and array substrate(100) and with another orientation film (241) between liquid crystal andopposed substrate (200). These orientation films (141), (241) are madeof polyimide resin. Also, polarization plates (311), (313) are adheredto the outer surfaces of array substrate (100) and opposed substrate(200), respectively.

FIG. 15 depicts a schematical plan view of the array substrate (100),wherein the lower side of this drawing is to be located at the upperside of the display screen of LCD device (1) while allowing scanninglines to be successively selected in the sequence from the lower to theupper side of the illustration.

The array substrate (100) includes 480 scanning lines (111) made ofaluminum-yttrium (Al--Y) alloy as disposed on a glass substrate (101).One end of each scanning line (111) is taken out to extend toward oneedge (101a) side of the glass substrate (101), and is electricallyconnected through a slant wiring line section (150) to a correspondingone of scanning line connection pads (152). Note here that the slantwiring line sections (150) and scanning line pads (152) may besubstantially the same as those of the first embodiment both instructure and in manufacturing process step.

The array substrate (100) also includes 1,920 signal lines (110) made ofMo--W alloy, which lines extend to intersect the scanning lines (111) atsubstantially right angles on the glass substrate (101). Each signalline (110) is taken out to run toward the other edge (101b) side of theglass substrate (101), thereby forming a corresponding signal line pad(162) via a slant wiring line section (160). Note that each slant wiringline section (160) and signal line pad (162) may be substantially thesame as those of the first embodiment both in structure and inmanufacturing process.

A TFT (112) is disposed near each of the crosspoints of the scanninglines (111) and signal lines (110). Also, a pixel electrode (131) of TFT(112) is disposed over the scanning line (111) and signal line (110)with an interlayer dielectric film (127) being provided therebetween.This interlayer dielectric film (127) may be an inorganic dielectricfilm made of silicon nitride or the like; more preferably, theinterlayer dielectric film is constituted from a multi-layered film of acombination of such inorganic dielectric film and organic resin coatedfilm thereby further improving the surface flatness and interlayerdielectricity.

Structure of TFT Region

An explanation will be given of the structure of TFT (112).

Each scanning line (111) includes a thin strip-like elongate region(113) extending along the signal line (110) to overlap the edges (131a),(131b) of one neighboring pixel electrode (131). As shown in FIG. 4,this elongate region (113) and pixel electrode (131) overlap each otherat certain overlap region (OS), with a first gate insulator film (115),a second gate insulator film (117) and interlayer dielectric film (127)being laid therebetween, causing such overlap region (OS) to constitutethe storage capacitor (Cs).

A planar rectangular light-shield layer (170) is provided at a certainplace across a gap between the position of the upper edge side (alongthe scanning line (111)) of pixel electrode (131) excluding the TFT(121) region and the adjacent ones of the scanning lines (111). Thislight shield layer (170) is formed using the same material as that ofsignal lines (110).

The opposed substrate (200) opposing this array substrate (100) isdisposed on a glass substrate (201), and includes a matrix-shaped lightshielding film (211) made of a chosen resin material which acts to blockany incoming light rays by way of the TFT (121) region and gap spacingsbetween the pixel electrode (131), signal lines (110) and scanning lines(111). A color filter (221) having three color components of red (R),green (G) and blue (B) is disposed in a certain region corresponding tothe pixel electrode (131). Provided on this is another opposed electrode(231) made of a transparent conductive material.

With the array substrate (100) of this LCD device (1) thus arranged,since the interlayer dielectric film (127) alone or both the first andsecond gate insulator films (115), (117) and interlayer dielectric film(127) are disposed between the pixel electrode (131) and signal lines(110) and between the pixel electrode (131) and scanning lines (111), itis possible for pixel electrode (131) to be disposed sufficiently closeto or over respective wiring lines (110), (111), enabling achievement ofincreased aperture ratio.

In addition, since the storage capacitor (Sc) is specifically formedbetween the pixel electrode (131) and the elongate region (113) asextended from a corresponding scanning line (111) neighboring to thispixel electrode (131), it is no longer necessary to employ anyadditional storage capacitor wiring lines enabling attainment of furtherincreased aperture ratio. And, three kinds of dielectric films (115),(117), (127) are disposed between the pixel electrode (131) and elongateregion (113) so that it becomes possible to successfully suppressoccurrence of electrical interlayer shorting due to the inherentstructure of this embodiment.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the pixel area is defined in planarsize not by the light-shield film (211) as disposed on the opposedelectrode (200), but by the elongate region (113) on the array substrate(100). Further, the light shield layer (170) is provided between theupper edge side of pixel electrode (131) and one scanning line (111)corresponding to this pixel electrode (131) so that this light shieldlayer (170) can also contribute to shape definition of the upper edgeside of pixel electrode. Accordingly, the alignment accuracy of theproduct may be determined exclusively depending upon an alignmentaccuracy of a first mask pattern for use in patterning scanning lines(111) to a fifth mask pattern for patterning pixel electrodes (131),rather than an alignment accuracy of the array substrate (100) toopposed substrate (200). This may avoid the need to add extra margins tothe width of light shield film (211) in view of possible alignmentvariations of the array substrate (100) and opposed substrate (200),thus enabling accomplishment of further increased aperture ratio.

Yet another advantage of the embodiment is that even when the elongateregion (113) of scanning line (111) is fully extended along the edges(131a), (131b) (along the signal line (110)) of pixel electrode (131) inorder to define the boundary of pixel area, it is possible to suppressor eliminate an excessive increase in storage capacitor (Cs) withoutdegrading the productivity. This can be said because the interlayerdielectric film (127) is disposed--in addition to the first gateinsulator film (115) and second gate insulator film (117)--between thepixel electrode (131) and the elongate region (113) of scanning line(111).

A further advantage is that, as shown in FIG. 17, the signal line (110)is exactly identical in outline to a low-resistance semiconductor film(124a) and semiconductor film (120). More specifically, not only thefirst and second gate insulator films (115), (117) but also thelow-resistance semiconductor film (124a) and semiconductor film (120)are laminated at the individual one of crosspoints of signal lines (110)and scanning lines (111). Due to this, even on occasions where maskdeviations take place during patterning process steps, the capacitancecan remains unchanged between the signal lines (110) and scanning lines(111), thereby suppressing variations or fluctuations in scanning-linecapacitance or in signal-line capacitance among devices manufactured.Moreover, this may suppress or eliminate interlayer shorting otherwiseoccurring due to static electricity at crosspoints of signal lines (110)and scanning lines (111), contaminants during process steps, or presenceof pinholes in respective dielectric films (115), (117), thus enablingprovision of higher yield of production.

A still further advantage of this embodiment is that since the signalline (110) coincides in outline with low-resistance semiconductor film(124a) as shown in FIG. 18, it is possible to sufficiently suppressoccurrence of capacitive variations between the signal lines (110) andscanning lines (111) even if mask alignment deviations take place duringrespective patterning steps.

A yet further advantage is that when the signal line (110) is designedto overlap the elongate region (113) of scanning line (111), that is,even when in the structure of FIG. 18 the elongate region (113) beingdisposed neighboring through the signal line (111) is connected underthe signal line (111), since the semiconductor film (12) in addition torespective dielectric films (115), (117) is disposed between the signalline (110) and the elongate region (113) of scanning line (111), anyinterlayer shorting can be prevented from arising due to staticelectricity, contaminants during processes or pinholes within respectivedielectric films (115), (117), attaining high manufacturing yield. And,with such an arrangement causing the elongate region (113) to bedisposed under pixel electrode (131) neighboring to signal line (111),the capacitive coupling between signal line (111) and pixel electrode(131) can be shielded by elongate region (113) lightening adverseinterference of the potential at pixel electrode (131) with potentialchanges of signal line (111). Yet, the semiconductor film (120) asdisposed between signal line (111) and dielectric films (115), (117) andlow-resistance semiconductor film (124a) are identical in outline withsignal line (111). For these reasons, it is permissible that signal line(111) and pixel electrode (131) are located closely to each otherattaining further increased aperture ratio.

Manufacturing Process of Array Substrate

A method of forming or manufacturing the array substrate (100) will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 20 through 26.

(1) First Process Step

As shown in FIG. 20, at the view of one cross-section taken along lineA-A', an Al--Y alloy film and an Mo film are sequentially deposited byknown sputtering techniques on the glass substrate (101) to a thicknessof 200 nanometers (nm) and to 30 nm, respectively. The resultingstructure is then subject to exposure process using a first mask patternwhile development and patterning (first patterning) are carried out,thereby forming 480 scanning lines (111) on the glass substrate (101).Note here that during such patterning of scanning lines (111), elongateregions (113) are also formed simultaneously.

At the position of another cross-section taken along line D-D' also,scanning lines (111) are formed in the same way as mentioned above.

(2) Second Process Step

After completion of the first step, as shown in FIG. 21, at the view ofA-A' cross-section, a first gate insulator film (115) made of siliconoxide is deposited using plasma CVD techniques to a thickness of 150 nm;thereafter, a second gate insulator film (117) made of silicon nitride150 nm thick, a 50-nm thick semiconductor coated film (119) of a-Si:H,and 200-nm thick silicon-nitride channel protective coated film (121)are formed sequentially in this order without exposing them toatmosphere.

At the view of D-D' cross-section, the first gate insulator film (115),second gate insulator film (117) and channel protective coated film(121) are formed in the same way as mentioned above.

(3) Third Process Step

After completion of the second step, as shown in FIG. 22, at the view ofA-A' cross-section, the channel protective coated film (121) is subjectusing rear-surface exposure techniques to patterning process with thescanning lines (111) being as a mask while the coated film (121) isself-aligned with scanning lines (111), and is then subject to exposureprocess using a second mask pattern to ensure that it corresponds toeach TFT region. Thereafter, development and patterning (secondpatterning) are performed to fabricate an island-like channel protectivefilm (122).

At the view of D-D' cross-section, the channel protective coated film(121) is removed away by patterning.

(4) Fourth Process Step

After the third step, as shown in FIG. 23, at the A-A' cross-sectionposition, surface treatment using hydrogen fluoride (HF) solution isapplied to the surface of a semiconductor coated film (119) as exposedto obtain good ohmic contacts. Then, a low-resistance semiconductorcoated film (123) which is made of n+ type doped amorphous silicon(n+a-Si:H) containing therein phosphorus (P) impurity is deposited byplasma CVD techniques to a thickness of 30 nm. Next, an Mo--W alloy film(125) is deposited thereon using sputtering techniques to a thickness of300 nm.

At the view of D-D' cross-section also, after deposition of thelow-resistance semiconductor coated film (123), an Mo--W alloy film(125) is deposited in the same manner as described above.

(5) Fifth Process Step

After the fourth step, as shown in FIG. 24, at the view of A-A'cross-section, the resulting structure is subject to exposure anddevelopment process using a third mask pattern so that all of the Mo--Walloy film (125), low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) andsemiconductor coated film (119) are patterned by plasma etchingtechniques at a time by controlling the selective etching rate of thefirst gate insulator film (115) or second gate insulator film (117) andthe channel protective film (122). This is the third patterning process,thereby forming semiconductor film (120), low-resistance semiconductorfilms (124a), (124b), source electrode (126b), signal line (110),connection node (110a)--see FIG. 15--as integral with signal line (110),and drain electrode (126a) as integral with signal line (110).

At the view of D-D' cross-section, the semiconductor film (120),low-resistance semiconductor film (124b) and Mo--W alloy film (125) aresubject to patterning process to make island-like pattern in the sameway as mentioned above. As a result, that site of Mo--W alloy film (125)acts as the light shield layer (170). In this case, the light shieldlayer (170) is arranged so that it does not entirely cover scanninglines (111); it covers them partially.

(6) Sixth Process Step

After completion of the fifth step, the interlayer dielectric film (127)of silicon nitride is then deposited on resultant structure to athickness of 200 nm. At the view of A-A' cross-section, as shown in FIG.25, exposure and development processes are effected using a fourth maskpattern; next, part of interlayer dielectric film (127) in a regioncorresponding to the source electrode (126b) is removed away forming acontact hole (129a) using dry etching techniques. Also, part ofinterlayer dielectric film (127) corresponding to the connection end(110a)--see FIG. 15--of signal line (110) is removed away forming acontact hole (129c) (fourth patterning).

At the view of D-D' cross-section also, the interlayer dielectric film(127) is formed in the same way as described above.

(7) Seventh Process Step

After completion of the sixth step, as shown in FIG. 26, at the view ofA-A' cross-section, an ITO film is deposited by sputtering techniques toa thickness of 100 nm. The resulting structure is then subject toexposure, development and patterning using a fifth mask pattern (thefifth patterning), thereby forming pixel electrodes (131)--see FIG. 15.

At the view of D-D' cross-section, the pixel electrode (131) is providedon the interlayer dielectric film (127) in the same way as discussedabove. In this case, the light shield layer (170) is arranged across thegap between scanning line (111) and pixel electrode (131).

Advantage of Second Embodiment

With the array substrate in accordance with the foregoing illustrativeembodiment, the array substrate can be formed or manufactured by use ofbasically five masks. More specifically, the productivity can beimproved with a decreased number of masks used while avoiding a decreasein the manufacturing yield thereof, as a result of locating the pixelelectrodes at the uppermost position, and of employing a specificmanufacturing method allowing several processes to be done at same stepwhich steps include: patterning the semiconductor coated films as wellas the signal lines, source and drain electrodes at a time using thesame mask pattern; forming the contact holes for interconnection of eachsource electrode with its associated pixel electrode and the contactholes for exposure of contact nodes of signal lines and scanning line s.

Further, in the manufacturing process steps mentioned above, it ispossible to simultaneously form the pixel electrode (131) and lightshield layer (170) at a specific position that overlies one scanningline (111) corresponding to such pixel electrode (131). In this case,any additional manufacturing process steps are not required.

In this embodiment the light shield layer (170) is disposed at the placeacross the gap between the pixel electrode (131) and one scanning line(111) corresponding to such pixel electrode (131); it may be alsopossible that the light shield layer (170) is located at the gap betweenthe pixel electrode (131) and a preceding (prestage) or following(poststage) one of the scanning line (111) corresponding to such pixelelectrode (131).

Modification Relating to Light-Shield Layer

FIG. 27 shows one modification relating to the light shield layer, whichis different from the second embodiment in that a light shield layer(180) is disposed covering the pixel electrode (131), the prestagescanning line (111) of the scanning line corresponding to pixelelectrode (131) and the lower edge portion of pixel electrode (131), andthat it is electrically insulated from the light shield layer (170).Note here that the light shield layer (170) and light shield layer (180)may alternatively be integrally formed without providing such electricalinsulation therebetween.

With such an arrangement, the opening of each pixel area can be definedon the array substrate enabling achievement of high aperture ratio.

Other Modifications

The above embodiment is drawn to the case where the semiconductor filmsare made of a-Si:H; obviously, these may alternatively bepolycrystalline silicon films. Also, driver circuitry may be arranged inthe peripheral region in a manner that it is integrated therewith.

Further, in cases where the pixel electrodes are located over the signallines and/or scanning lines with part of them overlapping such lines, anappropriate shield electrode made of a metallic film may be additionallyprovided between at least the pixel electrode and an associative signalline while dielectric films are used for electrical insulationtherebetween. When this is done, it is possible to reduce adverseinfluence of potential variations on signal lines upon pixel electrodes.

Third Embodiment

A description will now be given of an LCD device (1) in accordance witha third embodiment of the invention in connection with FIGS. 28 to 38.

As shown in FIG. 29, the LCD device (1) has an array substrate (100), anopposed substrate (200), and a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal heldtherebetween with an orientation film (141) being laid between theliquid crystal and array substrate (100) and with another orientationfilm (241) between liquid crystal and opposed substrate (200). Theseorientation films (141), (241) are made of polyimide resin. Also,polarization plates (311), (313) are adhered to the outer surfaces ofarray substrate (100) and opposed substrate (200), respectively.

The array substrate (100) includes 480 scanning lines (111) made ofAl--Y alloy as disposed on a glass substrate (101), storage capacitorlines (113) same in material and in process as scanning lines (111), afirst gate insulator film (115) made of a silicon oxide film as disposedon scanning lines (111) and storage capacitor lines (113), and secondgate insulator film (117) made of a silicon nitride deposited thereon.

The array substrate includes 480 Al--Y alloy scanning lines (111) asdisposed on the glass substrate (101); one end of each scanning line(111) is taken out to extend toward one edge (101a) side of the glasssubstrate (101), and is electrically connected through a slant wiringline section (150) to a corresponding one of scanning line connectionpads (152). Note here that the slant wiring line sections (150) andscanning line pads (152) may be substantially the same as those of thefirst embodiment both in structure and in manufacturing process step.

The array substrate (100) also includes 1,920 signal lines (110) made ofMo--W alloy, which lines extend to intersect the scanning lines (111) atsubstantially right angles on the glass substrate (101). Each signalline (110) is taken out to run toward the other edge (101b) side of theglass substrate (101), forming a corresponding signal line pad (162)through a slant wiring line section (160). Note that the slant wiringline section (160) and signal line pad (162) may be the same instructure to those of the first embodiment while employing the samemanufacturing process.

A TFT (112) is disposed near each of the crosspoints of the scanninglines (111) and signal lines (110). Also, a pixel electrode (131) ofthis TFT (131) is disposed over the scanning line (111) and signal line(110) with an interlayer dielectric film (127) being providedtherebetween. This interlayer dielectric film (127) may be an inorganicdielectric film made of silicon nitride; more preferably, the interlayerdielectric film is constituted from a multi-layer film employing acombination of such inorganic dielectric film and organic resin coatedfilm thereby further improving the surface flatness and interlayerdielectricity.

An opposed electrode (200) opposing the array substrate (100) isdisposed on the glass substrate (201), and includes a matrix-shapedlight shielding film (211) made of a chosen resin material whichfunctions to block any incoming light rays by way of the TFT (121)region and gap spacings between the pixel electrode (131) and signallines (110) and between the pixel electrode (131) and scanning lines(111). A color filter (221) having three color components of red (R),green (G) and blue (B) is disposed in a certain region corresponding tothe pixel electrode (131). Provided on this is another opposed electrode(231) made of a transparent conductive material.

Structure of TFT Region

The structure of TFT (112) is as follows.

On the array substrate (100), as shown in FIG. 29, the pixel electrode(131) is disposed overlying a corresponding scanning line (111) with thelamination of first gate insulator film (115), second gate insulatorfilm (117) and interlayer dielectric film (127) being laid therebetween;the pixel electrode is also disposed overlying an associative signalline (110) with interlayer dielectric film (127) being sandwichedtherebetween. Accordingly, even when the pixel electrode (131) islocated to sufficiently closer to such signal line (110) or scanningline (111), any electrical short-circuiting will no longer be occurredenabling achievement of high manufacturing yield while permittinghigh-resolution/high-aperture ratio design schemes. To be more specific,it may be permissible that pixel electrode (131) overlies either signalline (110) or scanning line (111) as necessary.

Yet, as shown in FIG. 30, the signal line (110) is exactly identical inoutline to a low-resistance semiconductor film (124a) and semiconductorfilm (120). More specifically, not only the first and second gateinsulator films (115), (117) but also the low-resistance semiconductorfilm (124a) and semiconductor film (120) are laminated at the individualone of crosspoints of signal lines (110) and scanning lines (111). Dueto this, even on occasions where mask deviations take place duringpatterning process steps, the capacitance can remains unchanged betweenthe signal lines (110) and scanning lines (111), thereby suppressingvariations or fluctuations in scanning-line capacitance or insignal-line capacitance among devices manufactured. Moreover, this maysuppress or eliminate interlayer shorting otherwise occurring due tostatic electricity at crosspoints of signal lines (110) and scanninglines (111), mixture of contaminants during process steps, or presenceof pinholes in respective dielectric films (115), (117), thus enablingprovision of higher yield of production. The same goes with the relationbetween the signal line (110) and storage capacitor line (113).

Wiring-Line Structure of Storage Capacitor Line

It is required that each storage capacitor line (113) be uniformlyapplied with voltages in the same manner as for the opposed electrodesfor example. To attain this, this embodiment employs a specificarrangement as set forth below. The wiring-line structure thereof is nowexplained with reference to FIGS. 28 and 31.

As has discussed previously, the storage capacitor line (113) is made ofthe same material as that used for the scanning lines (111)--e.g. Al--Yalloy--and is in substantially parallel with scanning lines (111).

In view of the above, as shown in FIG. 28, a storage capacitor-lineconnecting section (190) is formed so that it is at right angles to thedirection of an associative storage capacitor line (113) at one endportion of each storage capacitor line (113). The structure of thisstorage capacitor-line coupler section (190) is illustrated in FIG. 31.

The structure of this storage capacitor-line connecting section (190)will now be described below.

On the storage capacitor line (113) and scanning line (111) which are inparallel with each other, a first gate insulator film (115) made ofsilicon oxide and an overlying second gate insulator film (117) ofsilicon nitride are disposed and laminated respectively. Provided onthese double-layered dielectric films (115), (117) are a lamination ofsemiconductor coated film (119) almost perpendicular to the storagecapacitor line (113) and scanning lines (111), a low-resistancesemiconductor coated film (123), and a bundling lead (125) made of Mo--Walloy film that is the same in material and in process as signal lines(110). And, a first contact hole (191) is formed which partiallypenetrates two dielectric films (115), (117), semiconductor coated film(119), low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123), bundling lead(125) and interlayer dielectric film (127) rendering part of storagecapacitor line (113) exposed. Also, a second contact hole (192) making apair with the first contact hole (191) is disposed near first contacthole (191) along the wiring-line direction of bundling lead (125), forremoval of part of interlayer dielectric film (127) causing part ofbundling lead (125) to be exposed. The storage capacitor line (113) madeof ITO which is the same in material and process as pixel electrodes(131) is disposed and laminated in a region from a pair of first contacthole (191) to second contact hole (192), whereby each storage capacitorline (113) and its associated bundling lead (125) are electricallyconnected together by a storage capacitor-line connection layer (193).

In the same manner as in scanning line pads (152), the end portion ofeach storage capacitor-line coupler section (190) is taken out towardone edge (101a) side of the glass substrate (101) forming a storagecapacitor-line connection pad (194). This storage capacitor line pad(194) may be similar in structure to the scanning line pads (152) orsignal line pads (162).

Upon application of a voltage to the storage capacitor line pad (194),all storage capacitor lines (113) can be held at the same potential. Inaddition, fabrication of storage capacitor-line connecting section (190)may be carried out simultaneously with the manufacture of arraysubstrate (100) to be later described; it is thus avoidable that themanufacturing process is complicated unnecessarily.

In this embodiment the ITO storage capacitor line (113) is disposed andlaminated exclusively between the pair of first contact hole (191) andsecond contact hole (192); however, it may alternatively be designed toextend along the bundling lead (125). If this is the case, any failureof electrical interconnection can be prevented from occurring atbundling lead (125).

Manufacturing Process of Array Substrate

A method of forming or manufacturing the array substrate (100) will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 32 to 38.

(1) First Process Step

As shown in FIG. 32, an Al--Y alloy film and an Mo film are sequentiallydeposited by known sputtering techniques on the glass substrate (101) toa thickness of 200 nanometers (nm) and to 30 nm, respectively. Theresulting structure is then subject to exposure process using a firstmask pattern while development and patterning (first patterning) arecarried out thereby forming 480 scanning lines (111) and 480 storagecapacitor lines (113).

(2) Second Process Step

After completion of the first step, as shown in FIG. 33, a first gateinsulator film (115) made of silicon oxide is deposited using plasma CVDtechniques to a thickness of 150 nm; thereafter, a second gate insulatorfilm (117) made of silicon nitride 150 nm thick, a 50-nm thicksemiconductor coated film (119) made of a-Si:H, and a 200-nm thicksilicon-nitride channel protective coated film (121) are formedsequentially in this order without exposing them to atmosphere.

(3) Third Process Step

After the second step, as shown in FIG. 34, the channel protectivecoated film (121) is subject using rear-surface exposure techniques topatterning process with the scanning lines (111) being as a mask whilethe coated film (121) is self-aligned with scanning lines (111), and isthen subject to exposure process using a second mask pattern to ensurethat it corresponds to each TFT region. Thereafter, development andpatterning (second patterning) are performed to fabricate an island-likechannel protective film (122).

(4) Fourth Process Step

After the third step, as shown in FIG. 35, surface treatment usinghydrogen fluoride (HF) solution is applied to the exposed region ofsurface of a semiconductor coated film (119) to obtain good ohmiccontacts. Then, a low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) whichis made of n+ type doped amorphous silicon (n+a-Si:H) conductivitycontaining therein phosphorus (P) impurity is deposited by plasma CVDtechniques to a thickness of 30 nm. Next, an Mo--W alloy film (125) isdeposited thereon using sputtering techniques to a thickness of 300 nm.

(5) Fifth Process Step

After the fourth step, as shown in FIG. 36, the resulting structure issubject to exposure and development process using a third mask patternso that all of the Mo--W alloy film (125), low-resistance semiconductorcoated film (123) and semiconductor coated film (119) are patterned(third patterning) by plasma etching techniques at a time whilecontrolling the selective etching rate of the second gate insulator film(117) and the channel protective film (122), thereby formingsemiconductor film (120), low-resistance semiconductor films (124a),(124b), source electrode (126b), signal line (110), connection node(110a)--see FIG. 1--integral with signal line (110), and drain electrode(126a) integral with signal line (110).

During such process, a bundling lead (125) constituting the storagecapacitor connecting section (190) as described previously is patterned;at the same time, an opening (not shown) is formed by removing part ofthe lamination consisting of the bundling lead (125) on storagecapacitor line (113), low-resistance semiconductor coated film (123) andsemiconductor coated film (119), which opening corresponds to a firstcontact hole (191) for electrical connection of storage capacitor line(113) and bundling lead (125).

(6) Sixth Process Step

After the fifth step, the interlayer dielectric film (127) of siliconnitride is then deposited on resultant structure to a thickness of 200nm. Then, as shown in FIG. 37, exposure and development processes areeffected using a fourth mask pattern; next, part of interlayerdielectric film (127) in a region corresponding to the source electrode(126b) is removed away forming a contact hole (129a) using dry etchingtechniques (fourth patterning).

Simultaneously, part of the interlayer dielectric film (127)corresponding to the aforesaid opening is removed away causing thestorage capacitor line (113) to be partly exposed for formation of thefirst contact hole (191), while forming a second contact hole (192) bypartial removal of the interlayer dielectric film (127) letting part ofbundling lead (125) be exposed in the vicinity of first contact hole(191).

(7) Seventh Process Step

After completion of the sixth step, as shown in FIG. 38, an ITO film isdeposited by sputtering techniques to a thickness of 100 nm. Theresulting structure is then subject to patterning treatment by exposure,development and dry etching techniques using a fifth mask pattern (thefifth patterning), thereby forming pixel electrodes (131).

Simultaneously, a storage capacitor interconnection layer (193) isformed which is for connection of the storage capacitor line (113) andbundling lead (125) through the first contact hole (191) and secondcontact hole (192).

Advantage of Third Embodiment

With the array substrate in accordance with the foregoing illustrativeembodiment, the array substrate can be formed or manufactured by use ofbasically five masks. More specifically, an optimized process can beprovided for achievement of the conflicting requirements--namely,preventing a reduction in manufacturing yield by miniaturizing anypossible step-like differences as caused in wiring lines, and improvingthe productivity with a decreased number of masks employed therein--as aresult of locating the pixel electrodes at the uppermost position, andof employing a specific manufacturing method allowing several processsteps to be done simultaneously which steps include: patterning thesemiconductor coated films as well as the signal lines, source and drainelectrodes at a time using the same mask pattern used therefor; formingthe contact holes for interconnection of each source electrode with itsassociated pixel electrode and the contact holes for exposure of contactnodes of signal lines and scanning line s.

Other Possible Modifications

In the illustrative embodiment discussion is directed to the case wherethe semiconductor film is made of a-Si:H; alternatively, it may also bepolycrystalline silicon or the like. Driver circuitry may be formedintegrally with the array board at the peripheral region.

Also, where the pixel electrodes are disposed over the signal linesand/or scanning lines with part of the former overlapping the latter, anappropriate shield electrode made of a metallic film may be additionallyprovided between at least the pixel electrode and an associative signalline while dielectric films are used for electrical insulationtherebetween. If this is the case, it becomes possible to reduce adverseinfluence of potential variations on signal lines upon pixel electrodes.

It should be noted that any one of the aforementioned embodiments is theoptical transmissive LCD device, and that discussions are directed tothe case where the pixel electrodes are made of a transparent conductivefilm, such as ITO, for example. Due to this, electrical interconnectionbetween the lower-layer wiring line section and upper-layer wiring linesection is attained by way of the connection layer made of ITO asdisposed through a pair of contact holes in each embodiment. In view ofthe fact that this ITO is relatively high in resistance, it may bedesirable that the distance or interval between such paired contactholes is as short as possible; preferably less than 20 micrometers, forexample; more preferably, less than 15 micrometers. Note here that onoccasions where this connection layer and pixel electrodes are to befabricated at separate process steps, it may be possible to employlow-resistance materials therefor. If the LCDs are of the reflectiontype, the distance between such paired contact holes need not be limitedso strictly because pixel electrodes can in such case be comprised oflow-resistance materials such as aluminum.

As the liquid crystal layer, any one of several kinds of materials otherthan the TN liquid crystal, such as polymer distributed liquid crystal,ferrodielectric liquid crystal, antiferrodielectric liquid crystal, orthe like.

We claim:
 1. An array substrate for a display device comprising:aplurality of scanning lines on a substrate; a first insulator filmcovering said scanning lines; thin film transistors each having asemiconductor film on said first insulator film positioned above arespective one of said scanning lines, a channel protective film on eachsaid semiconductor film, and source and drain electrodes electricallyconnected to each said semiconductor film; a plurality of signal linesconnected to said drain electrodes extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said scanning lines; a plurality ofsemiconductor-layer lines connected to said semiconductor films, whereinan outline of each of the plurality of semiconductor-layer lines iscongruent with an outline of a respective one of said signal lines; asecond insulator film disposed to cover at least said signal lines; anda plurality of pixel electrodes each being arranged between two adjacentsaid scanning lines and electrically connected to a said sourceelectrode of a said thin film transistor associated with one of said twoadjacent scanning lines, through a contact hole of said second insulatorfilm, each said pixel electrode overlapping the other one of said twoscanning lines, the first and second insulator films being disposedtherebetween.
 2. An array substrate for a display device according toclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of strip-like elongate regionsattached to said scanning lines and extending parallel to said signallines and being partially overlapped along a signal-line-side edge ofeach said pixel electrode, with said first and second insulator filmsbeing laid between said edge and each said elongate region, therebypreventing light rays from leaking through a gap between each said pixelelectrode and respective ones of said signal lines.
 3. An arraysubstrate for a display device according to claim 2, wherein saidstrip-like elongate regions extend along an edge of said signal lines.4. An array substrate for a display device according to claim 1, furthercomprising light-shield-layer strips interposed between said first andsecond insulator films, each of said light-shield-layer strips beingdisposed along a scanning-line-side edge of each said pixel electrode topartly overlap one of the scanning lines through said first insulatorfilm and to be partly covered by said scanning-line-side edge of thepixel electrode through said second insulator film, thereby preventinglight rays from leaking through a gap between each said pixel electrodeand said one of the scanning lines.
 5. An array substrate for a displaydevice according to claim 4, further comprising strip-like elongateregions each being spaced from said the other one of said two adjacentscanning lines to extend along a signal-line-side edge of each saidpixel electrode and to overlap said edge, with said first and secondinsulator films being laid between said edge and each said elongateregion, so as to prevent light rays from leaking through gaps betweeneach said pixel electrode and the signal and scanning lines.
 6. An arraysubstrate for a display device according to claim 4, further comprisingsemiconductor-layer strips interposed between said first insulator filmand each said semiconductor-layer strip, being of a same material andthickness as said semiconductor films; an outline of said eachsemiconductor-layer strip being congruent with an outline of arespective one of said light-shield-layer strips.